5770 or GTS 250?

[kalniel]

The problems are:
1. Last gen cards that cost about the same, sometimes less, perform MUCH better.
2. Lack of DX11 content makes "I'll buy this much slower card at every game but 2 in hopes they will come out with some more games that I can play in DX11!" a questionable choice. The performance of the card is so poor compared to ATi's own 4890 that even the boost of DX11 can't help it overcome it's narrow memory bus:

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/vid..._12.html#sect1

Note the 4890 beating the 5770, even though the latter is in DX11, and the abysmally low minimum fps of all the DX11 cards.

The similarly priced GTX260 offers similar, often better, performance while giving the buyer CUDA, PhysX, 3D Vision, and AA in games like BatmanAA.

You're comparing a top end card with a mid-range card. The fact that the mid-range card keeps up with other top end cards is impressive by itself, and shows it's nothing like hamstrung. And complaining about lack of DX11 games is rich if you're then talking about CUDA etc.! The 4890 is infinitely slower in dx11 features, and the 5770 has far better power/heat characteristics than a GTX260.

Seriously Rollo, we appreciate your insight into nVidia processes and cards, but lay off this silly having a go at the competition thing - especially when it's not deserved, because it takes away from the things you can actually bring to Hexus.

[aidanjt]

Aye, it's best to wait for the whole DX11 dust to settle.

[scaryjim]

Wow so for most of the tests the HD4870 was slightly better than the HD5770, i didnt expect that

It's not exactly surprising, the 5770 has the same 800 stream processors as the 4870, but only half the memory bandwidth (GDDR5 on a 128bit bus, compared to GDDR5 on a 256bit bus). In fact, the 5770 specification is nearer that of the 4850, so you'd expect it to perform a little short of the 4870.

Rollo: Current generation mid-range cards will always be more expensive at launch than the equivalent previous generation cards, because they're new. It's the early adopter tax, and a lot of people will choose to pay it. Are you seriously suggesting that there'll be a Fermi GPU with equal performance to the GTX260 retailing at ~ £120? Or will we actually see a GTS350 which is really just a GTX260 with a different badge stuck on it? Apologies for the cynicism, but NVidia has been its own worst enemy recently with regard to "new" product launches, and while ATI may be having problems meeting demand for the 58x0, you can't accuse them of just rebadging the 4870 to make up for the lack of a new card.

Back to the OPs question - you should be able to source a GTX260 for about the same price as a 5770, and that would be a faster card in most games. However - it is a much more power hungry card (requiring 2 PCIe power connectors), so you need to work out what is most important to you: out-and-out performance, energy efficiency, or feature set. My advice would be to sit on your hands for another month and see what January brings.

[Indieboi918]

Thanks for all the help
I have been looking online and i think i'm gonna pay a little extra and get the 5870. I am also going to swap my case to one with better airflow and change the PSU to a more powerful one so i can actually run the GPU

[GheeTsar]

Thanks for all the help
I have been looking online and i think i'm gonna pay a little extra and get the 5870. I am also going to swap my case to one with better airflow and change the PSU to a more powerful one so i can actually run the GPU

Well, that's a very nice card indeed - but getting hold of one might be problematic - stock is a bit limited at the moment. Good luck though.

[Indieboi918]

Well, that's a very nice card indeed - but getting hold of one might be problematic - stock is a bit limited at the moment. Good luck though.

Thanks, i have looked on the novatech site and there is one Sapphire Card left and two Novatech cards in stock so i am going to order right away. Fingers crossed no-one beats me to it.

[nightkhaos]

Thanks, i have looked on the novatech site and there is one left in stock so i am going to order right away. Fingers crossed no-one beats me to it.

May your cart-foo win this day!

[shaithis]

Thanks, i have looked on the novatech site and there is one Sapphire Card left and two Novatech cards in stock so i am going to order right away. Fingers crossed no-one beats me to it.

The ones on Novatech are 5850s, not 5870s.....the 5870s are really really hard to get hold off right now.

Still, the 5850 is a very nice card, although I wouldn't want to pay more then £200 for one TBH.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Thanks, i have looked on the novatech site and there is one Sapphire Card left and two Novatech cards in stock so i am going to order right away. Fingers crossed no-one beats me to it.

Don't forget to use Quidco so you can get some cashback:
http://www.quidco.com/novatech/

[Indieboi918]

The ones on Novatech are 5850s, not 5870s.....the 5870s are really really hard to get hold off right now.

Still, the 5850 is a very nice card, although I wouldn't want to pay more then £200 for one TBH.

Oops, i meant to put 5850 not 5870.

[MadduckUK]

i want one, but no way in hell am i getting diddled to the tune of £50

this is supposed to be the start of more stock coming for everyone so might be trying to get one last gouge before prices go back to around 200... gibbo :|

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

If the OP has a Crossfire capable motherboard a pair of HD5770 cards would be cheaper and faster than an HD5850:
http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=862&p=0

A pair of HD5770 cards would under £250 too:
http://www.ebuyer.com/search?sort=pr...imit=10&page=1

Edit!!

It seems they don't have a Crossfire capable motherboard!!

[Rollo]

Thanks for all the help
I have been looking online and i think i'm gonna pay a little extra and get the 5870. I am also going to swap my case to one with better airflow and change the PSU to a more powerful one so i can actually run the GPU

A much wiser choice than the hobbled 5770. Enjoy!

[shaithis]

A much wiser choice than the hobbled 5770. Enjoy!

How is it hobbled?

It's a mid-range card.......I presume you refer to all non-top-of-the-line nVidia cards as "hobbled" as well do you? I thought not.

Can we please get Rollo the custom title "nVidia propaganda minster" please?

Seems impossible to have a subjective conversation about gfx cards on these forums anymore because of this tard.

[nightkhaos]

How is it hobbled?

It's a mid-range card.......I presume you refer to all non-top-of-the-line nVidia cards as "hobbled" as well do you? I thought not.

Can we please get Rollo the custom title "nVidia propaganda minster" please?

Seems impossible to have a subjective conversation about gfx cards on these forums anymore because of this tard.

Don't be so harsh on the poor fellow. He's intitiled to his opionion.

Of course the fact that is opionion is either based upon flawed logic, questionable sources, or no veritification what-so-ever (when prompted) does make it hard to call him objective.

[aidanjt]

or *cough*free graphics cards*cough*